Everything You Need To Know About Lash Extensions!

Out of all the posts I’ve ever written, I’m pretty sure this post has been the longest time coming! I think I’ve been promising it for over a year now, so I guess it’s about time I finally get to it!

If you’ve been following me for a while now, you know that for the past couple of years I’ve been getting lash extensions on and off! Before I started getting them, I made sure to do my research so that I was as informed as I possibly could be, because I of course wanted to make sure that they wouldn’t cause any kind of permanent damage to my natural lashes!

To start off, there are different kinds of extensions that you can choose from, depending on the look you’re going for! I currently have classic extensions (Done by Kedrin Meehan who is amazing, if you’re in Nashville) in the 14mm length, which is one of the longer and more dramatic lengths offered. Classic extensions are when a lash artist attaches one extension to each natural lash! Classic extensions are a bit more natural looking. The other option is volume extensions. Volume extensions are a bit lighter and thinner than classic extensions, and the lash artist attaches 3-5 lashes to each natural lash, so you get a much more dramatic look! I’ve had both classic and volume extensions, and like both for different reasons! The lash extensions I have currently are classic extensions!

Classic Extensions: Like your natural lashes, but longer!

Volume extensions: Give you more of a falsies look!

Before

After

If you’re looking into getting lash extensions, here are some important things to note:

Do your research! Read reviews! Ask the artists about their qualifications! In the state of Tennessee, you need to be either a licensed esthetician or cosmetologist in order to legally offer lash extensions! Be sure that your artist has the proper licensing! If you’re looking for a great licensed artist, I highly recommend Kedrin Meehan! She is extremely knowledgable and does such an amazing job!

Lash extensions are expensive! If you find a deal that looks too good to be true, it probably is! Last year, I made the mistake of going to a chain that was offering a super good deal, and it took my lashes MONTHS to recover! They weren’t properly trained and glued my natural lashes together, so when they started to grow out at different rates the faster growing lashes pulled the slower growing lashes out and let me tell you, not only was it ugly, it HURT! Don’t be like me. Don’t fall for a deal. Do your research. Read reviews. Go for quality. If you can’t afford quality extensions (most start at about $150 for a full set and are around $60-75 for a fill) then look into lash serums instead! I highly highly recommend GrandeLashMD! It obviously won’t give you the dramatic look that you’ll get with extensions, but I was shocked at the difference it made on my lashes after just a couple of months!

Lash extensions shouldn’t hurt. If your lashes are hurting, your artist most likely glued a few of your lashes together! Another thing to note, if they start pointing in different directions as they grow out, they may not be applied properly. This is another sign that your artist did not isolate each lash and may have accidentally glued a couple of lashes together. While lash extensions don’t cause permanent damage to your natural lashes if applied correctly, they can cause long term or short term damage if done poorly! If you notice this happening, talk to your artist about it. If it’s only a couple of lashes it may be an isolated incident, but if all of your lashes are pulling, hurting or growing out in different directions, it may be time to look for a new artist!

It is possible to be allergic to the glue or the gel pads used! If you have sensitive skin, especially around your eyes make sure to let your artist know! The last thing you want is to pay $150+ for a full set of extensions only to have an allergic reaction and need to get them removed! If you are allergic to the gel pads, your artist can hold your bottom lashes down with tape instead!

The longer the length you get, the more obvious it will be when they start to grow out! I love the longer lengths because I like a more dramatic look, but I will say that the longer lengths sometimes require more frequent fills because they start to look reallll ratchet after two weeks or so! Also, if you’re in between lengths, go with the shorter length. If you decide you want them longer, you can easily go with a longer length during your next fill. But if they’re too long you’re kind of stuck with that length.

Most artists will not accept clients who have gotten their original full sets elsewhere. Since different places use different lash brands and many people don’t know what length and curl they use, most artists will only do your lashes if you get your original full set from them!

Okay, now that we’ve covered the basics, it’s time to answer some of your most frequently asked questions!

Can I use mascara with my lash extensions? While some people do, it is highly discouraged my most lash artists I’ve talked to! It can shorten the life of your lashes and honestly, why would you want to? One of the joys of lash extensions is not having to worry about mascara! If you absolutely insist on using mascara, make sure that it is not waterproof and oil free. But I would strongly suggest not using it if you want to keep your lashes looking as nice as possible for as long as possible!

How do you take off your makeup without damaging your extensions? Make sure that whatever you use is oil free! Makeup wipes may seem like the best option, but be careful, as I’ve found that they often catch on extensions and can pull them out. I’ve found that the best thing to use is a Makeup Eraser! It’s literally just a cloth with water, so there is no risk of any kind of oil, and it’s soft, so I haven’t had the issue of it catching on and pulling out my lashes. It also gets WAY more makeup off than any kind of makeup wipe I have ever used!

How often do you need to get them filled? It depends on who you go to, but most will say once every 2-3 weeks! But also pay attention to your lashes and how they are looking, some places will charge you for a full set if your let your lashes get too sparse between fills!

Do lash extensions damage your natural lashes? If you go to someone who is experienced, knowledgable and knows what they are doing, they shouldn’t cause any long term damage! They may be a little shorter and straighter once you get your extensions removed, but your lashes are on a growth cycle, so give it a month or so and they should be back to normal! However, as I mentioned before make sure that your artist isn’t using too much glue and gluing your lashes together. Also, sometimes your lashes may not be strong enough for the longer heavier extensions, so talk with your lash artist to make sure that you don’t get extensions heavier than your lashes can handle.

As always, if you have any questions that I didn’t answer here, feel free to comment on this post, DM me, or send me an email and I’ll be sure to answer all of your questions!